False Degree

[DavieA]

I can speak from experience.

I worked for 2 years on a fake degree. The company I did my TEFL course with (god I'd love to say which company, the assh@les!!!!!) assured me I didn't need one to teach English in Thailand, there were ways around it. Then funnily enough, after I completed my TEFL course, they told me to go to Kao San road and get one. I did so, feeling very dodgey, but i really wanted to have the life experience of living and working in Thailand.

2 years later the same company/agency (they were an agency too) told me not to go to work one day as my work visa renewal was refused due to my degree being fake (they picked it - any idiot could!)

I found out later the pri@ks fell out with the officer they were obviuosly paying a bribe too and they also told my school I provided them with fake documents.

No only did I lose my job, I had to get out of the small town I was very happily settelled in because I was looked upon by the school and all other schools in the area as a discrace. There was no way I was going to get another job in the town I so much loved. Even after an emotional meeting with director of the school he still didn't believe my story that the I followed the agencies instructions. Very sadly I had to leave even without a goodbye to my dear 1000 students whom I'd developed an excellent relationship with.

Funnily enough I had a new job in a new town within the week, and I even told the new school I didn't have a degree! (didnt want to go through that rollercoaster again) They didn't give a hoot and were more than happy to take me on. I had a new work permit before I could say work permit and settled into my new job for another year.

I now live back in Australia with my Thai wife and would probably never bother with teaching English in Thailand again. However, without raising the old argument of is a degree really necessary in Thailand and who is the better teacher, qualified or not, I would recommend to those without degrees to be honest. Just tell them! You might get knocked back by a few schools, but many will certainly still consider you.

Ah Thailand....gotta love the place dont you?

Edited April 5, 2008 by DavieA